prosthetic

[pros-thet-ik]

adjective

of or relating to an artificial body part or prosthesis: He was fitted for a prosthetic arm.

of or relating to the fields of surgical or dental prosthetics: advances in prosthetic technology.

of or relating to a substance, item, or process used to transform a person’s appearance temporarily, especially as a theatrical special effect: The final scene required painstaking application of prosthetic hair and skin.

noun

an artificial body part; a prosthesis: Hundreds of amputees volunteered to test the new prosthetics.

an appearance-altering substance or item applied temporarily to a person’s face or body, especially to create a theatrical special effect: Alien creatures are brought to life with realistic prosthetics.

Origin of prosthetic

1735–40; < Modern Latin prostheticus, from Hellenistic Greek prosthetikós, equivalent to prósthet(os) “added on,” verbid of prostithе́nai “to add, put onto” (pros- pros-. + the-, stem of tithе́nai “to put, place” + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos -ic

Related formspros·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Word Origin and History for prosthetic

adj.

1837 in grammar; 1902 in the surgical sense, from Latinized form of Greek prosthetikos "disposed to add," from prosthetas "added," verbal adjective of prostithenai "to put to, add to" (see prosthesis). Related: Prosthetically.

prosthetic in Medicine